Legal Question in Kansas?

Question

I need help from a lawyer/attorney in KS. We bought a motorcycle from someone in Missouri and went to get it inspected (since KS requires out of state vehicles to be inspected before tagging) and they just confiscated the motorcycle because they say almost all of the parts have been stolen. We knew that there was a Salvage Title on the bike when we bought it, but the previous owner had the title and had tags for it so we figured it would be no problem on our end when we took it to get inspected...come to find out, Missouri doesn't check VIN #'s so that's supposedly how the previous owner was able to get it tagged. Now we're out a bike and all of that money and don't have money for a lawyer to go to civil court....are there any local lawyers for low income people(since one of us recently lost our job) or any local lawyers that get paid from what we get back or something? I've never been in this situation before so how do we go about getting our money back?!? Please Help!

Answer 1

You should contact the seller and tell him the story and ask for your money back. Give him an opportunity to make things right as I am sure he knew the history of the bike. If that doesn't work then you need to file a police report in that county, clay, platte, jackson or where ever he lifes.

He will be faced with criminal charges and may be forced to pay restitution, that's money you'll get back.

the alternative is to contact Kansas legal services and see if you would qualify for some limited legal help. Some lawyers would take this on contract with the promise they get XX% from the win in court.

Good luck!!!

Answer 2

you can contact the local Sheriff's department where the Seller lives or the county that this transaction took place.  That individual can be charged with theft by deceit / possession of stolen property and possibly fraud.  Some employers offer legal assistance through the employee assistance programs.  Not all companies provide this, but check there first. Also there is a certain amount of time (which I am unaware of the duration) but the sheriff / police will hold the bike in their possession and have the option of the original owner of the bike / parts to be able to get this back in their possession.  If it is never picked up you can claim rightful ownership.  Good Luck

Answer 3

Call around & find a lawyer who will take your case on a contingency - which means lawyer will not get paid a % of the settlement until you get your money.  Or take it to Judge Judy!  

Answer 4

I don't know Kansas or Missouri law but laws about these things are pretty consistent through the US. Your chances look pretty slim for getting anything back.

Receiving stolen property whether you knew it was stolen or not is a crime. You probably appeared to be an unknowing recipient so the Kansas cops didn't want to cause you trouble.

The only way you could possibly pursue this is by going after the seller in court because he sold you something that wasn't his. Unfortunately, he has a bunch of paper to back up his story, so he might be able to claim he didn't know it was stolen.

My guess is that you'd pay almost as much in legal fees as the bike is worth and then still not get anything if the seller is a deadbeat. The KS cops aren't going to release the bike to you because it is stolen.

I hope you didn't spend too much as this is probably just a costly life lesson.